The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-01-27

small frame building, percned on lofty roun- |
dation Of rough stones which was once occu- |
pied ns o land of1cc by General Rufus Putnam,
the founder Of Ohio, nnd the man to whose
memory tho people of tho five great States
that were carved from the Northwest Territory
should raise o proud md colossal monument.
General Putnam was remarkable man. He
has been confounded in the popular mind with
his cousin, General Israel Putnam, who had
the adventure in the VOLTS den, and who &C.
quircd q good deal Of notoriety through that
incident. General Rufus Putnam, the man
who first conceived the idea OF establishing o
Territory in what was then called the unknown
empire Of the West, seems to have been mon
of far greater resources and ability. II we are
to Judge by results, he certainly has accom-
plished a vast deal more than the warmest
partisan of General Israel Putnam could hope
in Justice to claim for him. The war OF the
Revolution developed good many strong, reso-
Lutte and patriotic men. but not one Of them
after the war did moro for the future Of this
country than Rufus Putnam.
He was born in Massachusetts,, and enjoyed
no early advantages. His father died when he
was but little more than seven years of age,
and shortly after that time he was taken to
live with step-father, who was an illiterate
man and who dcspised books and learning. He
refused to send Rufus to school, and denied
him the privilege Of studying at home. His
innate aspirations were cOldly frowned upon,
and every effort that he put forth for the acQui-
mercy. His step-father was an inn-keeper,
and Rufus sometimes earned few pennies by
looking after the horses These earnings he
invested in an old gun, with which he killed
game for the market. The proceeds Of these
sales purchased q spelling book and an ar1th-
metic: but obstacles were still thrown in his
way. He was not allowed to have candle for
use in the long winter evenings;, and his as
sociates never forgot to ridicule him; but the
thirst for knowledge was strong within him
and his dauntless spirit was intensified by the
barriers that were thrown about him. He
struggled on in o pathetic way, and in later
years, writing Of his early life, he said: AFTER
I was nine years old only went to school three
weeks In oil He was essentially sclf-made
man. In his sixteenth year hcwas apprenticed
to Daniel Matthews, OF Brookfield. to learn the
trade Of millwright. "By him." Rufus Put
nam says, my education was as much neg
lected US by my step-father, except that he did
not deny the use of light for study in winter
evenings I turned my attention chiefly to
arithmetic, geography and history; had been
as much engaged in learning to write well,
with spelling and grammar, might have been
much better qualified to fulfill the duties Of
the succeeding scenes Of life which, in Provi-
dence, have been called upon to pass
through" At nineteen. o love Of military glory
possessed him. and he became o soldier in the
French and Indian Wars of 1s55. In 1173 he
made an expedition to Florida. Two years
later he had taken up his sword again in behalf
of liberty. He entered the Continental Army
as Lieutenant-Colon Of regiment that was
stationed ut Roxbury, and he was destined to
play On important part in the memorable siege
OF Boston. After the battle of Charlestown,
June II, our troops were In an exposed condi-
tion. There were NO Notifications to protect
the town, and It was decided that some kind of
defense should be commenced. An engineer
who could plan the works and superintend their
erection was looked for, and none appeared. 1t
Of the m frinlo tad vvifh fhp n.
uation of the Colonies that they were without
men skilled In the science OF w0r. There were
no military schools in this country, and there
had been no great wars.
The strong character and fine natural abilities
OF Colonel Putnam had impressed themselves
2pon his associates, and It was learned that he
had done some little work upon fortiAcations
under British engineers during the French and
Indian war, and he was suggested as the man
for the emergency. He said that he had never
read work on Notifications, and that ho was
not qualified to undertake the important work
that should be done; but 1t was no time for ex-
cuses, and, as he was known to be o patriotic
man, the task was assigned him. He set to work
and traced lines In front OF Roxbury toward
Boston, and while he was engaged In this Cen
erals Washington and Lee examined the works
and expressed their cordial approval General
Washington declared that Putnams works were
much better constructed than those Of the Brit
ish, that were erected by skilled engineers, ON
the Cambridge side. He says In his memoir:
I'm the course Of this campaign surveyed and
delineatcd tho courses, distances and relative
situations Of the enemy's works In Boston and
Charlestown with our own in Cambridge and
Roxbury." In tho winter of 17T6 he performed
ono Of the most memorable feats Of the war.
The condition OF the Continental army was
dep.orable. Men were without shelter, food
or clothes, and 1t became necessary to force the
British TO evacuate Boston. After much anx-
ious thought and careful examination 1t was
determined, II possible, to take possession OF
Dorchester Heights and erect fortiiications that
would command both city and harbor. The
British would then be compelled either to fight
or CO. 1t was dangerous and difficult, and the
night OF March was selected for the nttempt
Colonel Putnam made his arrangements with
great exactncss. Each man knew just where